Automatic air-coupling.



P. HALBY. AUTOMATIC AIR GOUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED 00127, 1910.

990,042. Patented Apr. 18, 1911 4 SHEETS-SHBET1 awucuto'o P. HALEY.

AUTOMATIC AIR COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 7, 1910.

Patented Apr. 18, 1911.

Gnome,

m W wW MW.

Q&

P. HALBY.

AUTOMATIC AIR COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 7. 1910. 990,042, Patented Apr. 18, 1911.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Pezer fialey Gum,

P. HALEY.

AUTOMATIC AIR COUPLING. APPLICATION rum OCT. 7, 1910.

Patented Apr. 18, 1911.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

awue-wto'a Pezer flaky my be effected in the train "of the car pling iTo all whom it may concern:

UNITED s'raazns PATENT OFFICE.-

IETER BAILEY, OF WELLSTON, OHIQ..

AUTOHATIG AIR-COUPLING.

Specification of Letters ratent.

Application tiled October 7, 1910. Serial No. 585,827.

Be it known that I, Pn'rnn HALEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Wells ton, in the county of Jackson and State of Ohio, haveinvented new and useful Im- 'provements in Automatic Air-Couplers, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The invention relates to an improved train pipe coupling and isparticularly directed to a construction whereby. the train pipe may beautomatically connected and disconnected as the cars are coupled anduncoupled, whereby the time required and danger incident to the usualhand coupling is obviated. One of the objects of the resent invention'isthe provision .of a con ing head connected to and movable with t 1e carcoupling ,head, whereby as the latter yields iinder the pressure contactin the coupling operation, a simultaneous and similar movement will ipecoupling head.

A further object of t e invention is the connection of the train pipecoupling head to permit its yielding under pressure from the opposingcoupling head independentl ead, and the connection wit suchindependently movable part of means whereby, under such independentmovement, the cooperating sections of the respective coupling heads areinterlocked to ,provide an uninterru ted air-tight communication betweensai coupling heads for the passage of the fluid in the train pipe.

The invention in its preferred etails of construction will be describedin the following specification, reference being bad particularly to theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view in elevationillustratin' the application of the improved couead to the car couplerhead and to the car frame. Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan of the improvedtrain ipe coupling head. Fig. 3 is a lan of the ower section of theimproved coupling head, the operative parts of the head being shownhoused therein and Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the locking plunger.

length in the ordinary well-known manner and at each end of this car 11between the adjacent longitudinal beams or bolsters 12 thereof is theordinary J anney type coupler 13 for the joinin or coupling of adjacentcars in the usual way.

Connected with the draw bar of each c0uler 13 is a train or other pipecoupling lead comprising a casing or shell including upper and lowersections 14 and 15, respectively, detachably connected by means of sideplates 16, the casing or shell being mounted for ti ping andlongitudinal movement indepen ent of the coupler 13 in a supportingframe comprising spaced transversely disposed cross ridge pieces or bars17 and '18, the ends thereof being suitably secured to trunnionbearings, each having a substantially circular-shaped rim 19, withcentrally arranged spaced cross webs 20 providing inner and outer sideand upper and lower guide slots 21 and22, -respectively, the inner andouter side slots 21 being uniform throughout their length, and the upperand lower guide slots 22 being forwardly tapered or substantiallywedgesha ed.

Siiitably secured medially of the shell or casing, at opposite sidesthereof, are blocks 23, the same being mounted in counter seats 24 inthe lower section 15 of said shell or casing, and are provided withoutwardly extending trunnions 25, the same being formed. with crossbranch lugs or trunnions 26, which enga e in the wedge-shaped upper andlower ots 22 inthe bearings of the suporting; frame, and thetrunnions'25 engage in t the casingor shell of the coupling head maytilt or move longitudinally and laterally with respect to the car andindependently of the coupling 13 thereon when the coupling heads of theadjacent cars have been connected together.

Integral with the upper cross brid e piece 17 centrally thereof, is oneend of a racket e inner and outer slots 21, whereby or arm 27, thelatter being connected or formed integral with the draw bar of thecoupling 13 and the end of the arm or bracket 27 connected with thebridge piece. 5" 17 is provided with a head 28, the latter beingslidably mounted in guide ways or grooves 29 formed at the inner edgesof spaced parallel guide cleats 30, the same be ing suitably secured tothe bolsters 12 of the --car 11, the arm or bracket being adapted toconnect the supporting frame andthe draw bar of the coupler 13 together,so that on movement of the coupler 13, simultaneous movement will beimparted to the support- 15 ing frame for the pipe coupling head.

The lower section 15 of the shell or casing .is provided interiorly withindependent compartments 31, 32 and 33, the same being divided orseparated from each other by 2 means of vertical partitions 34, and the'upper section 14 of said casing or shell is likewise provided withcompartments 31, 32 and 33..adapted to register with the compartments inthe lower section 15, respectively, when the sections of the couplinghead, have been joined or connected together. In the outer end of theshell or casing of the couplinghead is formed an out-- wardly taperingnozzle 34 protruding beyond the outer end of the said shell or casing,and an inwardly tapering socket 35 arranged in horizontal alinement withthe said nozzle and in juxtaposition with respect thereto, the nozzle 34being provided with a 3 5 central bore 36 opening through oppositeendsthereof, and in which is inserted the outer end of a tube or pipesection 37, the latter being passed through the compartment 31in thesections of the shell or casing and has its inner end connected with onebranch 38 of a union coupling 39, the latter being suitably connectedwith one end of a flexible pipe section 40 connected with the train orother :pipe 10. This union coupling 39 has its other branch 38 connectedwith the upper end of a further pipe section 41 arranged within thecompartment 33 of the upper and lower section of the shell or casing,the outer end of this pipe 41 being in communication with the socket 35which latter is formed in casing.

Arranged within the registeringcompartnients 32 of the sections 14 and15 of the casing is a plunger rod 44, the same being formed at one endwith an abutment block 45, with which contacts one end of a coiledexpansion spring 46 surrounding the said plunger rod 44 and having itsopposite end bearing against alining cross webs 47 of the sections 14and 15 of the casing or shell. The opposite end of the plunger rod 44 isformed with a forked striker head 48, the

spaced parallel forked arms 49 "of which being disposed in guiderecesses 50 formed in the upper and lower sections 14 and 15 of thecasing or shell at opposite sides of the parts 42 and 43 of the splitblock containing the socket 35 and are adapted to move in the path ofpivoted locking dogs 51 disposed in adjacent coupling head in the socket35 when adjacent cars are being connected together.

At diametrically opposite points of the nozzle 34' near the outer endthereof are provided notches or recesses 53 in which engage the lockingdogs 51 when the nozzle 34 of an adjacent couplinghead is. insertedinthe socket 35 of the other coupling head duringthe coupling of adjacentcars.

, Formed on the plunger rod 44 is a squared enlargement 54, the latterbeing provided with a suitable elongated opening 55 through which ispassed a vertical pin 56, the ends of which engage in suitable socketsformed in the inner face of the cross bridge pieces or bars 16 and 17 ofthe supporting frame, so that when adjacent coupling heads for j oiningthe train or other pipe 10 are brought together in the couplingoperation, each head will be moved inwardly longitudinally .from'the endof. the car 11, thus causing the contraction of the expansion spring 46,as the pin 56 will maintain the plunger rod 44 passive during themovement of the shell or casing, thereby bringing the fork arms 49 intoengagement with the locking dogs 50 forcing the same into the notches 53of the nozzle 34 of an adjacent coupling head on the insertion of thesaid nozzle 34 in the socket 35 in the other coupling head, therebyconnecting the coupling heads of adjacent cars simultaneously with thecoupling of the draw bars of the couplers 13 of the said cars.

At the inner end of the socket 35 in the split .block and held insuitable recesses formed in the separable parts 42' and 43 is aresilient gasket 57, with which contacts the outer end of the nozzle 34,thereby forming a fiuid tight union between the split block and thesaidnozzle of adjacent cou pling heads during the coupling operation.

The upper and lower sections 14 and 15 of the shell or casing areprovided with elongated slots 58 to allow play of the pin 56 on thevertical tilting of the shell or casing, when the coupling heads ofadjacent cars are being connected or during the travel of a train over arough bed. v

When the coupling heads. of adjacent cars have been connected together,it is of course understood that the springs 46 are maintained undertension so that when it is desired to. uncouple the said cou ling headsof the train or other pipe 10, immediately upon detachment of the drawbars of the in the notches 53 in the nozzles 34, thus per .mitting thesame to disengage from the recesses 35 and on the disengagement of thenozzles 34' from the recesses 35 in the coupling heads, theoutward'movement of the said shells or casings is limited by the lugs 26being wed ed in the smaller ends of the wedge-shape slots 22 of thesupporting frames for the said coupling heads.

When the coupling heads have been joined or connected in the foregoingmanner, the train or other pipes 10 of adjacent cars Wlll havecommunication with each other, and on-the disconnecting of the couplingheads, the train or other pipes 10 of said adjacent cars willcommunicate directly with the atmosphere in the ordinary well-knownmanner forthe a plication of the brakes.

"From the oregoing, it is thought that the construction and operation ofthe invention will be readily understood without requiring a moreextended explanation.

What is claimed is:

1. In an air pipe cou ler, a supporting frame slidably connecte with acar body 'and fixed to its coupler for movement therewith, and havingtrunnion bearings pro vided with side, upper and lower guide slots,

the upper and lower slots being forwardlytapered, while the remainingslots are uniform throughout their length, an air brake coupler shellheld within the frame, and laterally extending substantially crossshapedtrunnions on the shell and engaging said slots in the bearings wherebythe shell will move longitudinally, laterally, and vertically in arcuatedirections independently of the car coupler.

2. In an air pipe coupler, a supporting frame slidably connected with acar body and fixed to its 'coupler for movement therewith, and havingtrunnion bearings provided with side, upper and lower guide slots, theupper and lower slots being for wardly tapered, while the remainingslots are uniform throughout their length, an air brake coupler shellheld within the frame, laterally extending substantially crossshapedtrunnions on the shell and engaging said slots in the bearings, wherebythe shell will move longitudinally, laterally and vertically in arcuatedirections independently of the car coupler, and automatically operatedtri latches in the shell for'the locking and un ockin thereof with anadjacent shell on the rece mg and advancing thereof within the fziame. 1

3. 11 an air pi e coup er, a supporting frame slidably coiinected with acar body and fixed to its coupler for movement therewith, and havingtrunnion bearings provided with side, upper and lower guide slots, -theupper and lower slots being forwardly tapered, while the remaining slotsare uniform throughout their length, an air brake coupler shell heldwithin the frame, laterally extending substantially cross-shapedtrunnions on the shell and engaging. said slots inthe bearings, wherebythe shell will move longitudinally, laterally and vertically in arcuatedirections independently of the car coupler, automatically operated triplatches in the shell for the locking and unlocking thereof with anadjacent shell on the receding and advancing thereof withinthe frame,

and a stationary element fixed vto the frame and held within the shellin the path of movement of the trip latches for actuating the hitter. Iy

4. 11 an air pipe coup er, a su porting frame slidably connected with a0 in body and fixed to its coupler formovement therewith, and havingtrunnion bearin provided with side, upper and lower gui e slots, the upr and lower'slots being forward] taper while the remaining slots areuniform throughout their length, an air brake coupler shell held withinthe frame, laterally extending substantially cross-shaped trunnions onthe shell and engaging said slots in the bearings, whereby the shellwill move of movement of the trip latches for actuating the latter, andmeans for advancing the shell on the detachment thereof from suchaIidjacent shell. 1

5. 11 an air pipe coup er, a su ortin frame slidably connected with abody? and fixed to its coupler for movement therewith, and havingtrunnion bearings pro- 'vided with side, upper and lower guide slots,the upper and lower slots being forwardly tapered, while the remainingslots are uniform throughout their length, an air brake coupler shellheld within the frame, laterally extending substantially cross-shapedtrunnions on the shell and engaging said slots in the bearings, wherebythe shell will move longitudinally, laterally, and vertically in arcuatedirections independently of the car coupler, automatically operated triplatches in the shell forthe locking and unlocking thereof with anadjacent shell on the receding and advancing thereof within the frame, astationary element fixed to the frame and held within the shell in thepath of movement of the trip latches for actuating the latter, means foradvancing the shell on the detachment thereof from such adjacent shell,and branch] pipes within the shell and having connec-.

tion with a train pipe. r

6. The combination with a train pipe coupling head having trunnions, ofa supporting frame therefor, comprising slotted bearings receiving saidtrunnions, cross bridge pieces connecting the said bearings, meansconnecting the frame to a car cou ler, means shdablytsuspendmg the framerom a car body, means within the head for automatically locking it withan adjacent coupling head, and stationary means connected with the frameand arranged within the coupling head in the path of said last-namedmeans to lock and unlock the same. on movements of the coupling head inthe frame.

head, stationary means connected with the frame and arranged within thecoupling head in the path of the said last-named means to lock andunlock the same on movements of the coupling head in the'frame, andbranch pipes within the coupling head and having connection with a trainpipe.

8. The combination with a train pipe coupling head having trunnions, ofa supporting frame therefor, comprising slotted'bearings receiving saidtrunnions, cross bridge pieces connecting the said bearings, meansconnecting the frame to a car coupler, means slidably suspending theframe from a car body, means within the head for automatically lockingit with an adjacent coupling head, stationary means connected with theframe and arranged within the coupling head in the ath of saidlast-named means to lock anonn ock the same on movements of the couplinghead in the frame, branch pipes Within the coupling head and havingconnection with a train pipe, and expansion means acting upon thesecpnd-named means PETER HALEY.

Witnesses:

JOHN PETTYJOHN, J OHN Lor'rus.

